A funeral mass was offered April 24 at St. Gerard RC Church, Paterson, for James L. Festa, 88, of Weehawken. He passed away in Apalachin, N.Y. on April 18. He was the son of the late Charles and Margaret Festa. Brother of June Leonardi of Little Falls, Charles C. Festa, Jr. of Paterson, Robert P. Festa of Totowa, Peter Festa of Oakland and the late Nicholas Festa (2005), Ret. Col. Donald Festa (2010) – US Marines, and Rose DeLisi (2011). He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

Born in Paterson, he lived in Weehawken since 1952 before recently moving to Apalachin, N.Y. He graduated from Central High School, Paterson, and received a BA degree and masters from Columbia University in New York. From 1943 to 1946, he served in the United States Navy during WW II. From 1949-1968, he was the Social Director for Pococabana Lodge in the Poconos. Mr. Festa was then the Social Director for the Villa Roma Country Club, Callicoon, N.Y., from 1972-2002. He ran the “Jimmy Festa - Festa Italiano” weekend at Villa Roma for many years.

From 2003-2004, he was the Social Director at Tamarack Lodge in NY. Also, from 1952 - 2002, Mr. Festa worked as a Dance Instructor for all schools for the Weehawken Recreation Department. Mr. Festa appeared in the Broadway productions of “Kiss Me, Kate” and “My Fair Lady.” He was the Founder and Director of the Weehawken Adult Club from 1965 - 2000. He conceived, produced, and directed the “Via Dolorosa - A Visual Passion Play” in Nutley and Bayonne for over 20 years. Services arranged by the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, Totowa.